Scaffold bracket attachment system

ABSTRACT

A scaffold bracket attachment system for securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork. The scaffold bracket attachment system includes a first segment with a plurality of first apertures and at least one second aperture, a second segment  30  extending transversely from the first segment, and an extended portion having at least one third aperture extending downwardly from the second segment  30 . A conventional scaffold bracket is attached to the first segment with fasteners extending through the first apertures. The second segment  30  extends behind a vertical board member of a form system and the extended portion is positioned adjacent a horizontal board member of the form system. Fasteners are extended through the second aperture and the third aperture to engage the form system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to scaffold brackets and more specifically it relates to a scaffold bracket attachment system for securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] Scaffold brackets have been in use for years. Scaffold brackets typically have a vertical member, a horizontal member attached to the upper end of the vertical member, and an angled brace extending from the lower end of the vertical member to the distal end of the horizontal member. The scaffold brackets also have a guide post extending upwardly from the horizontal member for assisting in retaining the scaffold planks and for providing a security railing. Various attempts have been made to provide securing structures for securing the scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork. Conventional scaffold brackets are inefficient to secure and have numerous loose components which can be lost.

[0007] Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,358 to Lapp; U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,630 to Whalen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,549 to Flynn; U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,244 to Weible; U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,097 to McCaleb; U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,280 to Smith et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,631 to Knauth; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,727 to Yennie, Jr.

[0008] While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork. Conventional scaffold bracket securing devices are difficult to utilize and have numerous components which are susceptible to loss and breakage.

[0009] In these respects, the scaffold bracket attachment system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of scaffold bracket securing devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new scaffold bracket attachment system construction wherein the same can be utilized for securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork.

[0011] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new scaffold bracket attachment system that has many of the advantages of the scaffold bracket securing devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new scaffold bracket attachment system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art scaffold bracket attachment devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0012] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a first segment with a plurality of first apertures and at least one second aperture, a second segment 30 extending transversely from the first segment, and an extended portion having at least one third aperture extending downwardly from the second segment 30. A conventional scaffold bracket is attached to the first segment with fasteners extending through the first apertures. The second segment 30 extends behind a vertical board member of a form system and the extended portion is positioned adjacent a horizontal board member of the form system. Fasteners are extended through the second aperture and the third aperture to engage the form system.

[0013] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0014] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0015] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

[0016] A second object is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system for securing scaffold brackets to concrete wall formwork.

[0017] Another object is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system that may be utilized upon various structures including but not limited to handset and ganged form systems.

[0018] An additional object is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system that is easily installed and removed.

[0019] A further object is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system that assists in leveling all of the brackets for a level work platform.

[0020] Another object is to provide a scaffold bracket attachment system that has no loose parts.

[0021] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.

[0022] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention attached to a scaffold bracket and a form system.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention attached to a scaffold bracket and a form system.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention attached to a scaffold bracket and a form system.

[0027]FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a scaffold bracket attachment system 10, which comprises a first segment 20 with a plurality of first apertures 26 and at least one second aperture 28, a second segment 30 extending transversely from the first segment 20, and an extended portion 40 having at least one third aperture 42 extending downwardly from the second segment 30. A conventional scaffold bracket 16 is attached to the first segment 20 with fasteners extending through the first apertures 26. The second segment 30 extends behind a vertical board member 12 of a form system and the extended portion 40 is positioned adjacent a horizontal board member 14 of the form system. Fasteners are extended through the second aperture 28 and the third aperture 42 to engage the form system.

[0032] The first segment 20 has a length sufficient to extend from behind a vertical board member 12 of form system past at least two scaffold apertures 18 within the scaffold bracket 16 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The first segment 20 is preferably comprised of a rigid material such as but not limited metal, composite or plastic.

[0033] The first segment 20 preferably has a first main portion 22 and a first side portion 24. The first main portion 22 is preferably substantially transverse with respect to the first side portion 24 as best illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The first main portion 22 has a flat structure and provides support to the first segment 20 along the horizontal plane.

[0034] The first side portion 24 extends transversely from a side of the first main portion 22 in a transverse manner as best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The first side portion 24 has a flat structure and provides support to the first segment 20 along the vertical plane.

[0035] As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the first segment 20 includes at least two first apertures 26 and at least one second aperture 28 preferably within the first side portion 24. The second aperture 28 is positioned near one end of the first segment 20 and receives a second fastener that extends into the side of the vertical board member 12 of the form system such as but not limited to nails, screws, bolts, and the like.

[0036] The first apertures 26 are aligned with the scaffold apertures 18 of the scaffold bracket 16 for receiving the second fasteners 60 thereby securing first segment 20 to the scaffold bracket 16. The second fasteners 60 may be comprised of any conventional fastener such as but not limited to threaded bolts and threaded nuts 62.

[0037] The second segment 30 is attached transversely to the first segment 20 as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings. The second segment 30 is sufficient in length to extend behind and past the vertical board member 12 of form system as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The second segment 30 is preferably substantially parallel to the first segment 20. The second segment 30 preferably forms an L-shaped structure with the first segment 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

[0038] The second segment 30 preferably has a second main portion 32 and a second side portion 34 similar to the first segment 20. The second main portion 32 is preferably substantially transverse with respect to the second side portion 34 as best illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The second main portion 32 has a flat structure and provides support to the second segment 30 along the horizontal plane.

[0039] The second side portion 34 extends transversely from a side of the second main portion 32 in a transverse manner as best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The second side portion 34 has a flat structure and provides support to the second segment 30 along the vertical plane.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 of the drawings, an extended portion 40 extends downwardly from the distal portion of the second segment 30. The extended portion 40 extends a finite distance and has at least one third aperture 42 for receiving a first fastener 50 that extends into a side of the horizontal board member 14 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 of the drawings.

[0041] In use, the user may first secure the scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 to either the scaffold bracket 16 or the form system. For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the scaffold bracket 16 is attached to the scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 with the second fasteners 60. The user positions scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 within the form system such that the first segment 20 is substantially parallel to a side of the vertical board member 12 and the second segment 30 is substantially parallel to the horizontal board member 14. It is preferable to have the first side portion 24 aligned adjacent to the side of the vertical board member 12 and the second main portion 32 aligned adjacent to an upper surface of the horizontal board member 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The extended portion 40 is positioned adjacent to the front of the horizontal board member 14 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. After the scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 is properly positioned upon the form system, the user then secures the scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 to the form system utilizing first fasteners 50 extended through the second aperture 28 into the vertical board member 12 and the third aperture 42 into the horizontal board member 14. The user is then able to position planks upon the scaffold bracket 16 as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The weight of the scaffold is transferred mainly to the inner portion of the second segment 30 adjacent to the first segment 20. When finished utilizing the scaffolding, the user simply removes the first fasteners 50 and removes the scaffold bracket 16 attachment system 10 along with the scaffold bracket 16.

[0042] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0043] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0044] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A scaffold bracket attachment system, comprising: a first segment having a plurality of first apertures, wherein said first apertures are aligned with scaffold apertures within a scaffold bracket; a second segment extending transversely from said first segment; and an extended portion having a second aperture that receives a fastener that extends into a front of a horizontal board member, wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from said second segment for engaging a front of a horizontal board member of a scaffold bracket.
 2. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 1, wherein said first segment includes a third aperture for receiving a fastener that extends into a side of a vertical board member.
 3. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 2, wherein said first segment includes a first main portion and a first side portion attached transversely to one another.
 4. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 3, wherein said third aperture and said first apertures extend through said first side portion.
 5. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 4, wherein said third aperture is positioned between said first apertures and said second segment.
 6. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 1, wherein said wherein said second segment includes a second main portion and a second side portion attached transversely to one another.
 7. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 6, wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from said second side portion.
 8. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 7, wherein said extended portion extends from a distal end of said second segment.
 9. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 1, wherein said extended portion extends from a distal end of said second segment.
 10. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 1, wherein said first segment and said second segment form an L-shaped structure.
 11. A scaffold bracket attachment system, comprising: a first segment having two first apertures, wherein said first apertures are aligned with scaffold apertures within a scaffold bracket; a second segment extending transversely from said first segment forming an L-shaped structure; and an extended portion having a second aperture that receives a fastener that extends into a front of a horizontal board member, wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from said second segment for engaging a front of a horizontal board member of a scaffold bracket.
 12. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 11, wherein said first segment includes a third aperture for receiving a fastener that extends into a side of a vertical board member.
 13. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 12, wherein said first segment includes a first main portion and a first side portion attached transversely to one another.
 14. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 13, wherein said third aperture and said first apertures extend through said first side portion.
 15. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 14, wherein said third aperture is positioned between said first apertures and said second segment.
 16. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 11, wherein said wherein said second segment includes a second main portion and a second side portion attached transversely to one another.
 17. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 16, wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from said second side portion.
 18. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 17, wherein said extended portion extends from a distal end of said second segment.
 19. The scaffold bracket attachment system of claim 11, wherein said extended portion extends from a distal end of said second segment.
 20. A scaffold bracket attachment system, comprising: a first segment having a plurality of first apertures, wherein said first apertures are aligned with scaffold apertures within a scaffold bracket; a second segment extending transversely from said first segment, wherein said first segment and said second segment form an L-shaped structure; and an extended portion having a second aperture that receives a fastener that extends into a front of a horizontal board member, wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from said second segment for engaging a front of a horizontal board member of a scaffold bracket; wherein said first segment includes a third aperture for receiving a fastener that extends into a side of a vertical board member; wherein said first segment includes a first main portion and a first side portion attached transversely to one another; wherein said third aperture and said first apertures extend through said first side portion; wherein said third aperture is positioned between said first apertures and said second segment; wherein said wherein said second segment includes a second main portion and a second side portion attached transversely to one another; wherein said extended portion extends downwardly from a distal end of said second side portion. 